English Only on Test Day

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on January 7, 2009

Switching between languages is hard on the brain, so on test day, wake up and only use English all day until your TOEFL test. If you live with people who speak your language: get out of the house as soon as you wake up. Go to a library and read, or go shopping alone. Just don’t speak any other language besides English.  If you speak another language before your TOEFL test, your brain will be thinking in that language, and it will be hard to switch out of it. Students often pause, can’t think of vocabulary, and say “ummm” a lot when they have spoken another language before their TOEFL test.

Less is More

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

TOEFL Test takers try to say as much as possible in their speaking responses. This is a bad idea. It makes you feel rushed and nervous. Instead, try to speak slowly and accurately. Saying less, but with perfect English is better than trying to say a lot with bad English!

Early Arrival

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

If you arrive for your TOEFL test early, then you will most likely be the first to start the test. This is very helpful because if you start later than other people, they will begin the speaking section while you are still on the listening section. In this situation, students usually complain that the voices answering the speaking section make it harder to listen to the lectures and conversations on the listening section. 

If you know you will have this problem, then here’s a tip:  When practicing listening at home, turn a radio on in the background. This will train you to listen to the lecture while there is other distracting noise (the radio) around you.

Time Management for Reading

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

DON’T BE TRICKED: Many students think that TOEFL gives 20 minutes for each reading passage. It does, BUT: it gives you 20 minutes to answer the first reading passage. After 20 minutes the passage goes away. Then you have 40 minutes to answer the next TWO passages.

HERE’S THE PROBLEM. If you don’t manage your time, you could spend all 40 minutes on the second passage and never get to the third passage. So you have to watch the clock and make sure that you are finished with the second passage after 20 minutes. Then: begin the third passage. This means that TOEFL is not only testing your English, but also your time management skills!

What to Eat on Your 10-Minute Break

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on January 6, 2009

TOEFL gives you only a 10-minute break between the listening and speaking sections. Be sure to bring a banana and a powerbar or some other source of protein and carbohydrate.  You’ll need the energy for the second part of the test!
GOOD LUCK!
Remember: When you need TOEFL, You need Strictly English!
Located in Boston, MA, Strictly English is America’s first TOEFL-only tutoring company.

Speaking Task One: Describe a City or Country

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

Because you might get a question asking you to describe a city or country, you should pick a city (for example: Paris, London, Tokyo) and a country (for example: India, Australia, Italy) and learn about it. Memorize two or three things about both your chosen city and chosen country. That way, any question about a city or country can be answered with your memorized statements.
GOOD LUCK!
Remember: When you need TOEFL, you need Strictly English
Located in Boston, MA, Strictly English is America’s first TOEFL-only tutoring company.

TOEFL Vocabulary Questions

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

Only spend 35 seconds on vocabulary questions!  If you don’t know the answer by then, you never will. Guess quickly and move on to questions you have a better change of answering!
To practice answering vocabulary questions in only 35 seconds, go to www.freerice.com and set a timer for 35 seconds.
Located in Boston, MA, Strictly English is America’s first TOEFL-only tutoring company.
Remember: When you need TOEFL, you need Strictly English!

Practicing Lectures

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

Did you know that iTunes has thousands of podcasts of university lectures, and they are all FREE.www.strictlyenglishusa.com has picked three that it thinks will help you the most. Check them out!
When you need TOEFL,
You need Strictly English!
Located in Boston, MA, Strictly English is America’s first TOEFL-only tutoring company.

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